Liaison aircraft

Taylorcraft Auster 5 liaison aircraft of 1957

A liaison aircraft (also called an army co-operation aircraft) is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery and similar duties. Able to operate from small, unimproved fields under primitive conditions, with STOL capabilities, most liaison aircraft were developed from, or were later used as general aviation aircraft. Both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters can perform liaison duties.

Use by Country

Bulgaria

• Kaproni Bulgarski KB-11 Fazan

Germany

• Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
• Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun
• Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu

Poland

• Lublin R-XIII

Soviet Union

• Polikarpov Po-2 Kukuruznik

Sweden

• Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub as Flygplan 51, 1958-1974
• Dornier Do 27 as Flygplan 53, 1962–1991
• Scottish Aviation Bulldog as Flygplan 61C, 1972–1989

Switzerland

• Pilatus PC-6

United Kingdom

• de Havilland Dominie
• Westland Lysander
• Taylorcraft Auster AOP

United States

Vultee L-1A

• Vultee L-1 Vigilant
• Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
• Waco S Series Waco C-72 or AAF UC-72 series
• Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing AAF Beech UC/YC-43 Traveler (Navy GB-1/2)
• Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
• Piper L-4 Grasshopper
• Stinson L-5 Sentinel
• Interstate L-6 Cadet
• North American / Ryan L-17 Navion
• Cessna O-1 Bird Dog

External links

• www.als-cannonfield.com - The Alamo Liaison Squadron is a group dedicated to restoring and flying liaison aircraft
• Lbirds.com - Website with resources, information, and models of US WWII Liaison Aircraft
• - The "Lbird" forum open to discussion about Liaison Aircraft

See also

• Liaison pilot